Window-guard.



DI N o S B 0 c A J F P WINDOW GUARD.

lApplication filed July 20, 1898.

2 Sheets-Shaet (No Model.)

\ Wzvzey TNE NORRIS Pawns c0. IHUTO-LIIHO, wnsmNlsTom a. c.

No. 630,599. Patented Aug; 8, I899.

P. F. J ACOBSON. WINDOW GUARD.

Application filed July 20, 1898.- ulo Model.)

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

PETER F. JACOBSON, OF l/VATERVILLE, KANSAS.

WINDOW-GUARD.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 630,509, dated August 8, 1899.

Application filed July 20,1898- Serial No. 686.462. (No model.)

To all whom "(it may concern:

Be it known that I, PETER F. J AOOBSON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Waterville, in the county of Marshall, State of Kansas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in WVindow- Guards, of which the following is a description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference-marked thereon.

My invention relates to so-called windowguardsthat is to say, those devices which are used in connection with counting-house windows and the like to protect the official at such window from attack-myobject being to provide a shield with mechanism whereby it is normally held out of operative position, while when necessary said shield can be readily and easily thrown into protecting position, and a further object is to improve generally upon structures of the character indicated.

To these ends the invention consists in the various matters hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a rear perspective of a counter provided with the present guard. Fig. 2 is a similar view of the shield with its braces and guide-rods attached. Fig. 3 is a detail top view of one of the actuating-springs and its bracket, andv Fig. 4 is a central vertical section from front to rear of the construction shown in Fig. 1.

Referring now more particularly. to the drawings, A represents a bank-counter or the like provided with a semicircular opening 00, in which slides a semicircular shield B, said shield being of suitable bullet-proof material. Across the upper end of this shield is a top B, of material similar to that of the shield proper or body portion B, said top projecting somewhat beyond the body portion, whereby a stop is presented which limits the downward movement of the shield, while said top also serves to cover the opening in the counter when the shield is in its lowermost position. Suitable mechanism is provided for holding the shield normally in its lowermost position-that is, below the counter-and also for releasing this holding mechanism and throwing the shield up into position to defend the teller or other official when so desired. This mechanism will now be considered.

Extending between the counter and the floor are suitable uprights a, serving to support the counter, these uprights being arranged in front and rear sets, and each upright of each set has in its inner facei. c., its face toward the other upright of its set a verticalgroove or way a Gross-bars I) connect the sides of the shield at their rear, and vertical bars I) are secured to these crossbars and project a suitable distance below the shield to permit the attachment of transverse guide-rods 19 which preferably carry in their ends rollers b entering the ways 0, in the uprights a. To the front of the shield is secured, as by the posts 79 a third transverse guide-rod b which is provided with rollers and moves in the ways of the front set of uprights in a manner similar to that in which the first-mentioned guide-rods 12 travel in the ways of the rear set of uprights.

It is to be here noted that the cross-bars I) not only serve for the attachment of the vertical bars I), but they also brace the shield, and, together with the top, tend to hold the same in its semicircular or bowed form. Also, the forward guide-rod lies in ahorizontal plane between the planes of the rear guide-rods, thus serving to steady the shield in its vertical movement.

Suitably journaled, as upon the rear uprights, is a rod 0, provided with an arm 0, while suitably pivoted, as. upon the vertical post 0, is a lever 0, having at its upper end ahook c ada ted to en a e a convenient membersuch as the staple I), here shown as upon a rod 11 which passes through the sides of the shield-a link 0 connecting the lower end of the hook-plate and the arm 0, whereby rocking of the rod 0 in its bearings serves to swing the hook out of engagement with the shield and thus release the shield. Treadles c are secured to the ends of the rod 0 just beyond the rear uprights, thus serving to prevent lateral movement of the rod. These treadles extend rearwardly, whereby they can be depressed by the footof the 0thcial having his position at the window guarded by the shield, butalso preferably have wind the coils of the springs.

held in its lowered position by means of the forwardly-extending arms 0 to which are attached wires or other members 0 leading through suitable bell-crank levers or other connections to treadles 0 located at points distant from the shield, the wires and levers being supportedupon the under side of the counter or in any other suitable manner. In this way the shield can be released from various points.

Passing now to a consideration of the mechanism for raising the shield, and thereby throwing the same into operative position when released, adjustable brackets D are supported upon the uprights, and springs D upon these brackets are in connection with the shield, said springs exerting an upward pressure. The brackets comprise side frames each having the usual horizontal bar cl and oblique supporting-bar d, while between the side frames is a cross-bar d carrying the spring. j ustable vertically by means of set-screws d" or in any other well-known manner, while the cross-bar is adjustable along the horizontal bars of its frame, the said horizontal bars and the ends of the crossbar being provided with openings to receive suitable keys (1. These keys and their receiving-openings are angular to prevent turning of the cross-bar. It will at once be seen that the adjustment of the brackets and the cross-bars affords ad- 1 justment of the springs to suit counters of various heights, &c. To each cross-bar is attached a rod at, here shown as secured in position by having its ends bent inwardly, as at cl, these ends being driven into the crossbar. The springs D are each formed of a single piece of spring-wire and have in their centers a loop 01 from which extend arms 61 toward the rod d Suitable coils d extend from the rear ends of the arms z'. c., the ends toward the rod-and these coils encircle the rod d Each coil extends outwardly from its arm, whereby said arms are prevented from spreading, and thereby carrying the loop d out of its proper position, and the ends of the wire forming a spring produce fingers d extending downwardly from the coils and resting against the inner side of the cross-bar of the bracket, being secured thereto in any suitable manner. A link-rod d connects each spring with the shield,and, as here shown,

this connection is made to the central bar Z)",

each link-rod being pivoted at one end to the said bar and at its other end to the loop in the spring. Itwill now be apparent that when the shield is depressed it rests below the top of the counter with the shield-top B covering the opening in said counter, while the action of lowering the shield serves to more tightly The shield is book 0 but upon tripping said hook by any of the treadles the springs are released and the shield is raised into protecting position. The shield-cover Bin its quick ascent will strike up the extended arm of a robber or the weapon held in his hand without interfering in the slightest with the bank employee, who

.may even lean on the inner side of the counter in a natural position, so as not to awaken the suspicions of the robber. Moreover, the

outer curved face of the shield better serves to deflect a bullet than would a Hat plate of metal.

To add to the efficiency of the device, an opening a is provided in the body portion of the shield, and in rear of said opening is supported a loaded pistol a, said pistol being here shown as pivoted upon a cross-bar a, secured to the sides of the shield. The purpose and use of these members are apparent.

It will of course be understood that the terms upper, lower, &c., are employed ,only in a relative sense and for the purpose of facilitating the description.

Preferably the side frames are ad- Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A window-shield formed of a plate bent into semicircular form, a top plate closing the upper end of the shield and projecting 1 beyond the margin thereof, a setting and re- ;leasing mechanism, and means for throwing or projecting the shield upwardly across a window-opening; substantially as described. 2. The combination with a bank-counter having an opening in front of its window, of 3 a shield for said opening having its vertical side edges extended rearwardly to the sides and lying flush with the top of the counter, a setting and releasing mechanism and means for projecting the shield upwardly when released; substantially as described.

In a device of the nature indicated, a

1 shield having an opening therein, and a pistol or the like pivotally supported in proximity to said opening; substantially as described.

4. In a device of the nature indicated, a shield having an opening therein, a support upon the shield in rear of the opening, anda pistol or the like pivoted upon said support;

substantially as described.

5. A shield for bank-counters comprising a plate of sheet metal having its vertical edges said rollers travel; substantially as described.

6. The combination with a guide-frame, of a vertically-movable window-shield therein, a latch mounted in the frame and engaging the shield to hold it down, mechanism for releasing the latch, adjustable brackets on the 1 of the window, a plate closing the top of the 1 shield, projecting beyond the margin thereof sides of the frame, and springs on said brackets having inwardly-extending arms linked to the sides of the shield at the lower portion thereof; the lowering of the shield serving to put the springs under tension, substantially as described.

7. The combination with the verticallymovable shield, and its guide-frame, of alatch and releasing mechanism for the shield, adjustable brackets on the sides of the guide each provided with an adjustable cross-bar, and coiled springs mounted upon said adj ustable cross-bar and having inwardly-extending arms connected to the opposite sides of the shields and placed under tension by the lowering of the shield; substantially as described.

8. In a device of the nature indicated, uprights, a shield, a bracket supported upon said uprights, said bracket having side frames,

PETER F. JACOBSON.

Witnesses:

W. S. lYICKELVY, F. E. WARNKE. 

